Are you a burn-the-candle-at-both-ends kind of gal with lots of room for improvement when it comes to creating margins for rest? But you actually love it and wouldn’t want it any other way? Well, so does Lisa Harper.

In her humorous and packed-with-biblical-wisdom way, Lisa shows us that it is possible for a frazzled nature to be glorifying to the Lord. Every late-night conversation with a hurting friend and each precious, adopted child needing a little extra tender loving care—exhausting, yet imperative, ways to be extensions of the gospel. In each of these vignettes illustrating Lisa’s overextended life, we learn that even in the middle of our own pure motives and hectic schedules, it is only by resting in God’s sovereign mercy that we are able to keep risking our hearts to serve his people and fulfill the callings he has placed on us.

Real life . . . abundant life . . . godly life is about loving Jesus and the people he allows us to rub shoulders with well—which means some days you’ll be stretched emotionally and physically. You’ll feel overextended. Thankfully God will expand our hearts and calendars to accommodate the calling. He is in the business of supplying us with new mercies every morning . . . new candles to burn, for more lives needing his light.

Contributor(s)

Lisa Harper

About the Contributor(s)

Lisa Harper

Lisa Harper is a gifted communicator whose writing and speaking overflows with colorful, pop-culture references that connect the dots between the Bible era and modern life. For six years Lisa was the national women’s ministry director at Focus on the Family, followed by six years as the women’s ministry director at a large church. The author of nine books, with a Masters of Theological Studies from Covenant Seminary, Lisa is a featured speaker with Women of Faith®.

ISBN-10

0849921929

ISBN-13

9780849921926

Release Date

Sep 3, 2013

Weight (lbs)

0.4600

Height

8.3

Width

5.4

Length

224

Length Unit

Pages

Publisher

Thomas Nelson

Price

$15.99

Format

Paperback

Language

English

Customer Reviews

Review by Heather

Rating

Being married to a man who pastors 2 congregations has not been easy. When my husband was ordained, I remember telling him that we would not do the "two church thing" ever again. (He was in youth ministry at one and senior pastor at the other at that time.) Little did we know 3 years later we would find ourselves once again doing the "two church thing". Our daughter's trip to Rwanda did introduce us to a man who pastors 10 churches. That was a good attitude adjustment to pour first world "problems".
Our Calendars are jammed packed. as I write this we have just finished plotting out the next 10 weeks. 1 weekend does not have an event we need to host, attend or be in support of.
Having 6 amazing children who tag along to most of these, and do so willingly, adds to the dynamic.

We are often chided by people that we will burn out. This is how it has been for 10 years so far. I do not anticipate it changing. Thus far, we have been given the grace and strength to do the tasks we have been given. We do not sit still very well.
IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY. Just having dinner as a family one nite a week is a stretch. There is almost always a good reason why he is not home. Some one is in the hospital, some one died, some one prayed to receive salvation.... I could easily feel like I am competing for my husband's attention if I do not stay surrendered. In the moments when I am functioning in my own strength, well, those are bad moments.

Lisa Harper gets this.
I am so glad to know it is not just "us" who are being stretched. Some how just knowing that adds strength. This book is a wonderful reminder as to WHO is the focus and to stay in a surrendered place.

At the same time, I would like to offer a challenge to all those who say we are burning out. If you step up and do some of the tasks, the tasks would be more spread out amongst the church. Many hands make light work. You will find the tasks worth the effort. To see lives changed and hearts renewed is a great work to be allowed to be a part of.
Pray for your congregation's staff and leadership.
Join them in the tasks.
Buy this book for them. (Posted on 8/30/13)